orbit

Pluralorbits

Formsorbits, orbiting, orbited

1. 1
   circling pathnouncountable

   The curving route something takes around a center point or another object, like a moon around a planet.

   The tetherball swung in a wide orbit around the pole.

   The moth kept flying in tight orbits around the porch light.

   UsageSay an orbit around something, often with a describing word: a wide orbit.

   Similarpath, course, trajectory

   Note
2. 2
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To move in a circle or curved path around another object or place, like Earth around the Sun.

   The moon orbits the Earth about once a month.

   Many satellites orbit the Earth, sending TV and phone signals.

   UsageSay orbits the Sun. People also say orbits around the Sun.

   Similarcircle

3. 3
   noununcountable

   The state of going around and around something, like a satellite around the Earth.

   The new satellite has been in orbit for three years.

   The rocket carried a new part for the space station into orbit.

   UsageSay in orbit, into orbit and out of orbit, usually with no a or the.

4. 4
   area of activitynounfigurativelycountableusually singular

   The area in which someone or something has influence, is active, or has an interest.

   After the war, the small country fell into the orbit of its powerful neighbor.

   The coffee shop and the gym were the only places in her daily orbit.

   UsageOften with into or within: fall into the orbit of a big country.

   Similarsphere, realm, domain

   Note
5. 5
   one full tripnouncountable

   One full trip around the thing that something is circling.

   The space station makes one orbit of the Earth in about an hour and a half.

   The astronauts counted the orbits as they circled the planet again and again.

   UsageCount them: one orbit, sixteen orbits. You make or complete an orbit.

   Similarrevolution, circuit, lap

6. 6
   eye socketnouncountable

   The space in the bones of the head where the eye sits.

   The ball hit him in the face and cracked the bone of his right orbit.

   The doctor checked both orbits for swelling after the fall.

   UsageDoctors use this word. Most people say eye socket.

   Similarsocket

   Note
7. 7
   electron pathnouncountable

   In older, simpler models of an atom, the path an electron, one of its tiny parts, takes around the center.

   In the drawing, each electron has its own orbit around the center of the atom.

   Atoms link to each other through the electrons in their outer orbits.

   UsageAn orbit is an electron's path in an older atomic model. An orbital describes where an electron is likely to be found.

   Note
8. 8
   set circlingverbtransitive

   To send something, like a satellite, up into space so it goes around a planet.

   The country hopes to orbit its first satellite next year.

   A small rocket orbited ten tiny satellites in one launch.

   UsageHere the satellite is the object. Most people say put it into orbit or launch it.

   Similarlaunch

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